York College head softball coach Jen Petteys usually has big plans for her summer.

This summer, however, is different.

As normal, recruiting and watching her two children play games for their respective teams has kept the seventh-year Spartan head coach busy.

This summer, however, life has gotten a little crazier for Petteys.

In the last week as she has been named the head coach for the E1 Pro Ballers in the American Softball Association, a women's professional softball league based in Mobile, Alabama.

Petteys, who owns a career mark of 128-125-2 in six years at York, takes over an E1 Pro Ballers team that has gotten off to a tough start to the season at 5-16.

"My goal is trying to unify this team," Petteys said in a news release issued by York College. "They've had some trials and tribulations since before I arrived, but our game is 90 percent mental and 10 percent physical.

"Our girls need to get a handle on their confidence and play the game they know how to play. It's just again about unifying this team and solidifying the culture. I recognize that we are in last place but I'm a firm believer of 'It's not where you start, but where you finish.'

"Getting these girls to remember the purpose of why they are here and getting them to play hard and play strong."

Petteys has used those tenants during her tenure as the Spartan head coach. Petteys is 103-67-1 over the last four seasons while coaching her own recruits. She led the Spartans to 27 wins last year.

In addition, her team continues to do the job in the classroom. The softball squad won the Dr. William DeMeester Team Academic award with a grade-point average of 3.59.

Petteys is thankful for the opportunity to get to work with the E1 Pro Ballers.

"First and foremost, it is an honor and I am humbled to be involved in this grassroots effort to grow the game that we all are part of and that we love so much," Petteys said.

"I'm hoping to take these ladies and elevate their games to the highest level. They are here because they have earned it and we want to make sure they get better every day as part of this grassroots effort."

The ASBA has formed a four-team league featuring the E1 Pro Ballers, Moh-BEEL! USA, Outkast and Future 1's. The schedule opened on June 15 and runs through July 25. The playoffs open on Thursday, July 26, and conclude by July 31.

Joining Petteys in Alabama is current assistant and former four-time All-Capital Athletic Conference shortstop Katie Maloney. Maloney had originally planned to assist Petteys as the assistant coach but has been placed on the active roster after an injury left the squad short-handed.

Petteys will return to York in August, when the Spartans begin preparation for the 2019 campaign, with fall practice beginning in early September.